Team USA’s Olivia Weaver is through to her first career Hong Kong Open semifinal–and third PSA Platinum semifinal of the season–after a statement win over Belgium’s world No. 5 Nele Coll Thursday, December 5, at the Hong Kong Football Club.
The American world No. 4 has been in a strong vein of form recently having won her second Chestnut Hill Classic title last week, and met Coll for the second time this season in the quarterfinals of a PSA Platinum event. Weaver and Coll have both held the world No. 4 and world No. 5 rankings this year and it was Weaver who solidified herself in the top four with her second win over the Belgian.
After beating Coll in a close five games in the Qatar Classic quarterfinals in October, Weaver went two better in Hong Kong with an impressive 3-0 win 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 in fifty-six minutes.
“Nele and I always have battles! We both love making it physical and I’m happy today didn’t get too physical,” Weaver said. “I’ve loved my time in Hong Kong; last year my trip here was cut shorter than I’d like and I’d love to go all the way!”
Weaver will face world No. 1 Nour El Sherbini in the semifinals for the second time this season. Weaver will aim to improve on her five-game loss in the U.S. Open semifinals in October with her first career win.
U.S. teammate Amanda Sobhy recognized a milestone on her comeback journey as she marked exactly one year since her second achilles rupture in the Hong Kong Open final last year. Sobhy went up against the same final opponent in the Hong Kong quarterfinals, world No. 3 Hania El Hammamy, and pushed the Egyptian in a close three game match. Sobhy’s focus will now shift to the World Team Championships event next week.
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